Coupling for rolls



(No Model.)

J. P. BUDKE. COUPLING FOR ROLLS.

No. 573,203. Patented DeQJIB, 1896.

- Att'y.

UNITED STATES PATENT.

. FFICE.

COUPLING FOR ROLLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,203, dated December15, 1896.. Application filed August 19, 1895- $arial No. 559,708. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN F. BUDKE, a citizen of the United States,residinglat Can nonsburg, in the county of WVashington and State ofPennsylvania, have invented or discovered a certain new and usefulImprovement in Couplings for Rolls, of which improvement the followingis a specification. I

My in vention relates to means for detach,- ably coupling members of atrain of rolls for rolling metal; and its object is to prevent theobjectionable backlash and breakage of wabblers, spindles, andcoupling-boxes which are experienced in the operation of rolls connectedby the couplings ordinarily employed.

To this end my invention, generally stated, consists in a spindle whichis longitudinally recessed from each of its ends toward its middle, thecentral planes of the recesses of the opposite ends being, respectively,radiallyangular; also in the combination of a spindle, as specified,coupling-boxes, each having internal projections adapted to engage therecesses of one end of the spindle, and rolls hav in g wabblers whichare recessed, respectively, corresponding with the ends of the spindle.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a View, partly in elevationand partly in longitudinal central section, of a portion of aroll-train,illustrating anapplication of my invention; Fig. 2, anisometrical view "of a spindle and coupling-boxes in accordance with myinvention; Fig. 3, an end view in elevation of a spindle, and Fig. 4 asimilar view of a coupling-box.

. In roll-couplings as constructed prior to my invention, so far as myknowledge and information extend,the wabblers and the ends of thespindles are each provided with three or four (ordinarily four)longitudinal recesses and the coupling-boxes with a corresponding numberof internal projections, the recesses of the wabbler at one end of eachroll and those at one end of each spindle being in the same radialplanes as those of the other. \Vith this construction the results ofbacklash are found to be marked and objectionable by reason of the factthat the sets of connecting coupling-surfaces of theseveral rolls of thetrain being disposed in the same longitudinal planes, respectively, andthere being a certain amount of play or freedom between thenormally-abutting surfaces their periods of inaction due to such playare practically simultaneous throughout and are intermitted betweenthose of their action when in contact. In other words, the entire set ofsurfaceswhich should be in operative contact are at times out ofcontact, and shocks, which frequently cause breakage involving inuchexpense and loss of time, are, as is familiar in practice, offrequentoccurrence and are caused by the sudden contact th roughout'the entiretrain of the surfaces through which it is driven.

In the practice of my invention the spindles ing the same in relativeconnection and are provided with longitudinal internal projectionsengaging substantially corresponding recesses in the spindles andwabblers. Lon gitudinal recesses 5, one or more, of segmental transversesection are formed in the periphcry of each of the spindles 1, extendingfrom one end thereof toward the middle for a distance sufficient toadmit of the required longitudinal movement of the coupling-box 4 incoupling and uncoupling, and the opposite end of the spindle is providedwith a similar and similarly-extending recess or recesses 5, thelongitudinal central plane of the recesses 5" being respectively locatedat right angles to that of the recesses 5.

In the instance shown two longitudinal recesses are provided for eachend of the spindle, and these are diametrically opposite, so that theyhave a common longitudinal central plane. While I consider this numberof recesses desirable, by reason of the greater body of metal andconsequent strength which is provided, I do not limit myself thereto, asone, three, or even four recesses may be made at each end of thespindle, if desired, without departure from my invention, the onlyessential being that they shall be in relatively different radialplanes, or staggered, at the opposite ends, respectively, of thespindles.

The wabblers 2 of each of the rolls 3 are similarly recessed that is tosay, the wabbler at one end of the roll has a longitudinal recess orrecesses 6 and that at the other has a similar recess or recesses 6, thelongitudinal central plane of the recesses 6 being, as in the case ofthe spindles, located at right angles to that of the recesses (3. Therelative circumferential location of the opposite end recesses of boththe spindles and the wabblers of each rollthat is to say, in differentradial planes, respectively, at opposite ends of the spindles androlls-is plainly indicated in Fig. 3.

The coupling-boxes 4 are hollow cylindrica members of proper internaldiameter to fit easily over the wabblers and spindles, and each of themis provided with longitudinal projections 7, corresponding in number andsubstantially in transverse section with the recesses of the wabblersand spindles, so as to enter and fit freely therein when thecoupling-box is moved into position to connect, in the usual manner, oneof the wabblers of a roll with the adjacent end portion of a spindle. Bythe alternate change of circumferential location of the recesses at theopposite ends of the rolls and of the spindles the coupling-surfaces arestepped, staggered, or alternated relatively to the longitudinal centralplane of the train of rolls; and it has been found in practice that bysuch construction the amount and objectionable results of backlash arematerially reduced as compared with the constructions heretoforeemployed, inasmuch as one or more pairs of coupling-surfaces in thetrain will always be in or practically in contact, and therefore theshocks occasioned by making contact simultaneously throughout the train,as in prior constructions, are not caused in the operation of myimprovement. It will also be seen that where only two recesses areprovided at each end of the spindles and rolls the quantity of metalbetween the edges of the recesses of the spindles and wabblers isgreatly increased, and liability to breakage at these points, which hasheretofore proven a fruitful source of expense and delay, is effectuallyguarded against.

While I have described and shown the recesses at the opposite ends ofthe spindles and rolls as having their central planes located at rightangles to each other, I do not desire to limit myself to a constructionin which this specific angularity is presented, as it is obvious that itmay be varied to a greater or less degree without departing from thespirit of my invention.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Aspindle for coupling members of a train of rolls, having one or morelongitudinal recesses, extending from each of itsends toward its middle,the central planes oftherecesses of one end being, respectively,radially angular to those of the recesses of the other end,substantially as set forth.

2. A roll for use in a train for rolling metal, having one or morelongitudinal recesses on each of its end portions or wabblers, thecentral planes of the recesses of one of the wabblers being,respectively, radially angular to those of the recesses of the otherwabbler, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, in a train of rolls for rolling metal, of a spindlehaving one or more longitudinal recesses extending from each of its endstoward its middle, the central planes of the recesses of one end being,respectively, radially angular to those of the recesses at the otherend, rolls having their wabblers recessed correspondingly with the endsof the spindle, and coupling-boxes having internal projections adaptedto engage the recesses of the spindle and wabblers, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN F. BUDKE.

WVitnesses:

J. SNowDEN BELL, F. E. GArrHER.

